The Fluvial-dominated delta is one of the extremely important deposition systems in oil and gas exploration. In this paper, the three-dimensional numerical simulation of hydrodynamics has been applied to the precise analysis of the formation of fluvial-dominated deltas and the evolution of their distributary channels. The model has been created using the Delft3D program, and the conditions of the numerical model have been set according to the hydrodynamic characteristics of modern rivers and deltas. The calculation field was 20.5 km in length by 10 km in width. With the Mor-Factor set to 60, the simulation time was 45 days. The formation and the avulsion of the mouth bar, as well as the extension, migration and bifurcation of distributary channels, have been observed and studied through analysis of the simulation results. The vertical cross-section shows that the distributary channel was filled multiple times. According to distributary channel evolution characteristics combined with quantitative methods, the terminal distributary channels can be extremely developed under ideal conditions. Due to the cross-cutting and reform effort of distributary channels, sediments were spread widely and continuously. The results show that the numerical model works well in explaining the process of evolution in fluvial-dominated delta distributary channels. This study not only enables us to quantitatively understand the dynamic processes of terminal distributary channels in fluvial-dominated delta systems, but also provides a reference model for numerical simulation of hydrodynamics in sedimentology study.
